MDC’s President and Colleagues on Knight Commission on Trust, Media and Democracy Present Report on Crisis in Democracy: Renewing Trust in America

Miami, Feb. 5, 2019Miami Dade College’s (MDC) President, Dr. Eduardo J. Padrón, who serves on the national Knight Commission on Trust, Media and Democracy to support the role of strong, trusted journalism as essential to a healthy democracy will present this year commission’s report, Crisis in Democracy: Renewing Trust in America.  The event will take place Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 10:30 a.m., at the Aspen Institute in Washington D.C.

The initiative is anchored by a panel of top thinkers and doers from diverse backgrounds committed to creating more informed and engaged communities. This nonpartisan commission will explore causes for the erosion of trust in democratic institutions, in particular, the press. It will also identify new thinking and solutions around rebuilding trust.

“For the past year, it has been an honor and privilege to be part of the Knight Commission that aims to bring communities and journalists closer together, and build a strong future for journalism, something so critically important,” said MDC’s President Padrón.

The commission consists of individuals from various key sectors of society—current and former members of media, business, nonprofits, academia, government and the arts. A partnership of the Aspen Institute Communications and Society Program and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Commission began working in the summer of 2017 with the aim of reporting in early 2019. During that time, the Commission benefited from a wide diversity of input on crucially important issues. It held meetings around the country, hearing from a wide array of witnesses, scholars, activists, government officials and, through a medium channel, the general public.

This report aims to articulate the reasons for the growing distrust in American institutions, to re-envision news media that will be fair, truthful and responsible, and to catalyze citizens to participate in civic life.  The commission recommends specific actions to restore trust in media and democracy. It identifies what journalists can do; what the media distributors such as social media and other digital networks can do; what government and business leaders can do; and, perhaps most important, what each American can and should do to assume responsibility for democratic governance.

Learn more at https://www.aspeninstitute.org/events/knight-commission-report-launch-event/.